TEACHER: EDUARDO CHÁVEZ CLASS: _______

THE 4 TYPES OF CONDITIONALS

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
(CONDITION) (RESULT)
ZERO CONDITIONAL(Type 0) IF I DRINK COFFEE AT NIGHT. I DON’T SLEEP WELL.
[IF + SIMPLE PRESENT] [SIMPLE PRESENT]
USED FOR:
PRESENT REAL/FACTUAL
SITUATIONS.
FIRST CONDITIONAL(Type 1) IF I DRINK COFFEE TONIGHT. I WON’T SLEEP WELL.
[IF + SIMPLE PRESENT] [FUTURE WITH “WILL”]
USED FOR:
FUTURE REAL/FACTUAL
SITUATIONS.
SECOND CONDITIONAL(Type 2) IF I DRANK COFFEE TONIGHT. I WOULDN’T SLEEP WELL.
[IF + SIMPLE PAST] [MODAL VERB: “WOULD”]
USED FOR: [WOULD + BASE FORM VERB]

PRESENT OR FUTURE
UNREAL/IMAGINARY
SITUATIONS.
THIRD CONDITIONAL(Type 3) IF I HAD DRUNK COFFEE LAST I WOULDN’T HAVE SLEPT
NIGHT. WELL.
USED FOR: [IF + PAST PERFECT] [PERFECT MODAL:
PAST UNREAL/IMAGINARY “WOULD HAVE”]
SITUATIONS. [WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
VERB]
NOTE: IN THE SECOND UNREAL CONDITIONAL, THE FORM “WAS” IS NOT CONSIDERED GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS USE “WERE”.
EXAMPLES:
If he were French, he would live in Paris. CORRECT.
If he was French, he would live in Paris. INCORRECT.
If she were rich, she would buy a yacht. CORRECT.
If she was rich, she would buy a yacht. INCORRECT.
I would play basketball if I were taller. CORRECT.
I would play basketball if I was taller. INCORRECT.
I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. CORRECT.
I would buy that computer if it was cheaper. INCORRECT.
SUMMARY:

If clause Main clause

(CONDITION) (CONSEQUENCE or
RESULT)

Type 0 present simple present simple

General Truth

Type 1 present simple future (will)

Probable situation *sometimes (be going to/may/might)
Type 2 past simple would + base form verb
Unlikely to happen *sometimes (could/might instead of would)

Type 3 past perfect would + have+ past

Impossible situation in past participle verb
*sometimes (could/might instead of would)